Sustainability and carbon management We optimise the balance between sustainability and carbon management objectives, whole life cost and affordability, working within clients’ practical project constraints.

Information: Sustainability strategies Carbon Management Sustainable procurement Sustainability rating tools Sustainability costing

Sustainable solutions to built environment challenges

The built environment has a vital part to play in developing a low carbon economy with approx 50% of the UK emissions coming from buildings. Clients are seeking greater sustainability input to benefit from the cost savings, fulfil statutory compliance, corporate responsibility, manage reputational risk and respond to market demand to be greener.

"Every tonne of CO2e avoided is £200 added to a company’s bottom line. This amount will continue to rise as carbon taxes and energy prices keep increasing" – Faithful+Gould Research

Faithful+Gould’s Sustainability and Carbon Management Group works with clients to develop sustainable solutions to built environment challenges. Best results are achieved with early intervention – from strategy setting, through design development, procurement, construction and commissioning, to handover, occupation and use.

Significant operational performance improvement can also be achieved in existing properties. We offer strategies to reduce carbon emissions, improve resilience against climate change impacts and address other sustainability issues such as waste generation, water use and sustainable materials selection.

Balancing sustainability objectives and whole life costs

We help clients navigate the most economically viable path to a sustainable building by balancing sustainability objectives and whole life costs. Grants and incentives can be optimised, such as the Feed-in Tariff, Enhanced Capital Allowances and the Renewable Heat Incentive, so that clients achieve the maximum benefit for the least cost. Our award-winning solutions have helped both public and private sector clients, while our pioneering toolkits and processes underpin our clients’ sustainability objectives.

Sustainable strategy and governance

To create the best sustainability strategy for the project or property portfolio, we guide clients through the necessary legal and policy aspects as well as the financial incentives. We also explore the effects of rises in energy prices and carbon taxation. Specific services include:

• Creating sustainability and environmental policies and frameworks
• Setting sustainability KPIs, targets and benchmarking
• Environmental Management System development, implementation and audits, e.g. ISO 14001 & BS 8555
• Taking advantage of new government policy, e.g. Feed-in Tariff, Renewable Heat Incentive, Green Deal, Green Investment Bank

Sustainability as part of everyday business

We help our clients embed sustainability practices and principles into their corporate ethos. This empowers organisations to:

• Measure and benchmark performance
• Meet targets to reduce emissions, waste and water consumption
• Maintain accreditations, e.g. ISO 14001
• Manage reputational risk
• Demonstrate environmental commitment to their
  customers
• Attract and retain the best staff
• Perform credibly in corporate sustainability programmes, e.g. Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Business in the Community, Global Reporting Initiative, Carbon Disclosure Project and FTSE4Good Index

Carbon and energy management

We advise our clients on the most economically viable carbon reduction path. Services include:

Carbon/Energy management policy, strategy and systems development

• BS EN 16001: Energy Management Systems
• Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS)
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) accredited
• Carbon Trust Standard
• Bespoke solutions

Regulatory compliance and mitigation

• Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme
• Climate Change Levy and Agreements
• EU Emissions Trading System
• Building Regulations (Part L)
• Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates

Incentives – maximising the benefits

• Feed-in Tariffs for renewables (FITs)
• Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs)
• Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
• Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance Scheme
• Enhanced Capital Allowances
• Loan Schemes (Carbon Trust, Salix Finance)

Energy metering, data collection, analysis and benchmarking

Operational and embodied carbon footprinting

• ISO 14064
• GHG Protocol

Identifying and prioritising carbon reduction opportunities

• Energy efficiency surveys, analysis and feasibility
• Energy/thermal modelling
• Renewable and low carbon technology surveys and feasibility
• Technology appraisal

Developing investment plans and business cases

Regional/Local Authority-based low carbon energy studies

Building in project flexibility to allow for climate change

Sustainable procurement

This is an opportunity to embed sustainability into programmes, budgets and contracts to ensure the commitment is binding. We help clients incentivise innovation and maximise resource efficiency in procurement, reducing waste and optimising materials selection. This may include:

• Bidder evaluation and selection based on sustainability criteria
• Sustainable design workshops to identify targets and prioritise sustainability options
• Sustainable procurement targets, clauses and documentation
• Supplier screening and supply chain analysis
• Materials analysis
• Pain/Gain Agreements to reward innovation
• Post-occupancy evaluation and facilities management advice

 Cost of BREEAM Compliance Procurement

* Research by Faithful+Gould for BRE on the cost of achieving various BREEAM ratings.

Rating and appraisal tools

Our qualified assessors can advise on all the leading sustainability rating and appraisal tools and the most cost-effective strategies to comply with these standards. The systems most frequently used include BREEAM, LEED, Code for Sustainable Homes, CEEQUAL, Ska and bespoke rating systems. Global projects may need international rating systems such as Estidama, Green Star and PassivHaus and some clients may want a combination of ratings. We also work with Design Quality Indicators and have trained EPCs and DEC assessors that can use a wide range of carbon tools.

Costing sustainability

Green buildings need not cost more. Our option appraisals help clients balance cost and sustainability outcomes, typically exploring the following:

• Life cycle costing/whole life value studies and capital investment strategies to optimise running costs
• Procurement models which help offset the capital costs such as Energy Performance Contracting and Energy Services Companies and
• Renewable energy system option appraisals